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REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE ON THE AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT ON THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF LIVESTOCK DISEASES FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTED ON 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2015 PRINTED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE ON THE AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT ON THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF LIVESTOCK DISEASES FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTED ON 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS Item 1.
Membership of the Committee 2.

Functions of the Committee 3.

Meetings of the Committee 4.

5.

Auditor General’s Comments Procedure adopted by the Committee 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Background to the Audit Motivation for the Audit Audit Objective Audit Questions Audit Criteria 6.
Consideration of Submissions 6.1 6.2 Consolidated Submissions by Stakeholders Controlling Officers’ Responses and the Committee’s Observations and Recommendations 7.0 Conclusion Appendix I Page 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 5 15 16 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE ON THE REPORT OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL ON THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF LIVESTOCK DISEASES FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTED ON 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2015 Consisting of: Mr K Chipungu, MP, (Chairperson); Mrs A M Chungu, MP; Mr E T Chenda, MP; Mr V M Mooya, MP; Mr B Hamusonde, MP; Mr G Namulambe, MP; Mr A Sichula, MP; and Mr J Shakafuswa, MP.
The Honourable Mr Speaker National Assembly Parliament Buildings LUSAKA Sir Your Committee has the honour to present its Report on the Report of the Auditor General on the Management and Control of Livestock Diseases for the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.

Functions of the Committee 2.0 follows: i.
The functions of your Committee, as set out in the National Assembly Standing Orders, are as to study, report and make recommendations to the Government, through the House, on the mandate, management and operations of the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock, departments and/or agencies under their portfolios; to carry out detailed scrutiny of certain activities being undertaken by the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock, departments and/or agencies under their portfolios and make appropriate recommendations to the House for ultimate consideration by the Government; to make, if deemed necessary, recommendations to the Government on the need to review certain policies and/or certain existing legislation; to examine annual reports of Government ministries and departments under their portfolios in the context of autonomy and efficiency of Government ministries and departments and determine whether the affairs of the said bodies are being managed according to relevant Acts of Parliament, established regulations, rules and general orders; and to consider any Bills that may be referred to it by the House.
ii.

iii.

iv.

v. Meetings of the Committee Your Committee held three meetings to consider the Auditor General’s Report on the 3.0 Management and Control of Livestock Diseases during the period under review.

Procedure adopted by the Committee Your Committee requested written and oral submissions from the following stakeholders: Livestock Development Trust; Livestock Services Cooperative Society; 4.0 i. ii.

iii.

University of Zambia School of Agricultural Sciences; and iv.
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

1 Auditor General’s Comments 5.0 The Auditor General reported that the Performance Audit Report on the Management and Control of Livestock Diseases, was submitted for tabling in the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of Article 250 (1) (c) of the Constitution of Zambia.
Background to the Audit Livestock diseases have a devastating impact on animal productivity, on trade in live animals, 5.1 meat and other animal products, on human health and consequently, on the overall process of economic development.

Despite the importance of the livestock industry to the development of the Zambian economy, the sector has continued to face many challenges among which are the frequent outbreaks of livestock diseases.
This is a major challenge on record which has prevented the sector from realising its full potential.

The major weaknesses in the management of livestock diseases were as set out below.

a.

The Ministry operated without a livestock development policy which meant that the priority areas were at risk of not being addressed.

b.

Use of outdated livestock statistics posed a major challenge in the formulation of strategies for the prevention and control of livestock diseases.
c. Vaccinations were not usually conducted at scheduled times as in most cases, vaccines were supplied after the scheduled times.

Delayed vaccinations increased the incidence and spread of diseases in livestock and in turn, costs of containing livestock diseases increased drastically.

d. Regional Laboratories were inadequately staffed and they lacked both basic and advanced diagnostic equipment.
This meant that most samples were sent to the main laboratory at the Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI) in Lusaka.

Consequently, this process increased incidence of samples spoiling and also this impacted on the promptness of communication of test results.

e. The number of dip tanks and other supporting infrastructure were inadequate in each respective agriculture camp to effectively service the total number of animals as most Government dip tanks were in a deplorable state.
Motivation for the Audit The livestock sector has faced challenges which have prevented it from realising its full potential.

5.2 One of the major challenges has been the frequent outbreaks of livestock diseases.

It was thus imperative that the management of animal health systems in both the public and private sectors were effective in order to safeguard food security, economic productivity and public health.

The audit was also motivated by the factors as outlined below.

a.
a.

There have been frequent livestock disease outbreaks that have led to high costs of containing the outbreaks.

b. Parliamentarians have expressed concern on the vandalism of the cordon line in Western Province, inadequate livestock extension services and the use of outdated livestock statistics, among others.
c. Government has incurred high costs of compensating farmers, whose animals are slaughtered as a way of containing some livestock diseases – this was evidenced in the 2013 African Swine Fever Outbreak where the Government spent an estimated K10,000,000 to contain the disease and compensate the affected livestock farmers.

2 Audit Objective The purpose of the audit was to assess to what extent livestock diseases control mechanisms were 5.3 effectively managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
Audit Questions 5.4 i.

Based on the audit objective, the audit was designed to answer the questions as set out below.

To what extent were the policies and other guidelines adequate in managing an effective and efficient delivery of veterinary services in the country?

ii.

To what extent did the Ministry collect sufficient management information to be able to monitor, manage and control livestock disease?

• To what extent is passive and active surveillance of livestock diseases carried out?
• Are surveillance and other reports submitted on time in order to influence decision making?

iii.

To what extent has the Ministry put in place measures to monitor, control and prevent livestock diseases outbreaks?

• Are routine vaccinations carried out?

• Are vaccination schedules followed?

• What infrastructure and other related materials and equipment for disease control are in place?

Is the infrastructure and related equipment adequate?
• • Does the Ministry have adequate personnel to deliver veterinary services?

iv.

What are the trends in livestock diseases outbreaks during the period under review (2011-2014)?

• How many outbreaks have been reported in the period under review?

• What are the main reasons for the livestock diseases outbreak?

Audit Criteria 5.5 In conducting the audit, the following documents were reviewed as sources of criteria: the Animal Health Act No.

27 of 2010; a. b.
27 of 2010; a. b.

Disease Control Strategies; c. Budgets (2011 – 2013); d. Policy Manuals; e. OIE guidelines – Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Volume 1; and f. Work plans for Veterinary Services Department 2011 – 2013.

Consideration of Submissions on Matters Raised in the Audit Report Your Committee received submissions from the identified stakeholders and the Controlling 6.0 Officer of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock as stated below.
CONSOLIDATED SUBMISSIONS BY STAKEHOLDERS Your Committee noted that all the stakeholders who appeared before it supported the Auditor 6.1 General’s findings and recommendations.

However, the stakeholders made additional recommendations stated hereunder.

3 i.

A cost effective disease control mechanism needs the involvement of all the key stakeholders.

Synergies must be created in order to tap into the strengths and resources of all the stakeholders in the livestock sector.
The ownership of all the activities by the stakeholders aimed at controlling livestock diseases and promoting the development of the livestock sector was key to ensuring success.

It was, therefore, important that the Government identified the key stakeholders and engaged them from time to time on issues pertaining to animal health and livestock development.

ii.
ii.

Veterinary drugs, inputs and services must not only be made available and affordable, but also brought close to the farming communities preferably by the private sector.

The unavailability and unaffordability of the services and veterinary inputs hindered the timely and effective prevention and control of management diseases by the livestock farmers who had to cover long distances to access both services.

iii.

iv.

The Department of Veterinary Services must be well staffed and well funded.
The Department must be empowered with transport to encourage rapid response in case of any disease outbreaks or threats.

The Department of Livestock Production must also be strengthened so that it is able to provide the farmers with information in best husbandry practices and updated with new trends that were occurring in the industry.

With improved management, most of the diseases that the traditional sector was faced with could easily be avoided.
v. Vaccination and management schedules for both management diseases and Diseases of National Economic Importance (DNEI) should be made available to the farmers in all the districts in relation to the disease situation in that area.

By making the schedules available to the farmers especially for DNEI, they would have information on when their livestock were expected to be vaccinated.
With this knowledge, the farmers who were the beneficiaries could put pressure on the Government to vaccinate their animals at the right time.

This could help with the timely implementation of vaccination activities.

vi.

Disease-free zones must be clearly demarcated, created and actualised in at least two provinces for possible export of livestock and livestock products.

vii.
vii.

An emergency disease control fund should be established for rapid response in the event of disease outbreaks could greatly contribute to minimising the impact of disease outbreaks and reduce the cost of controlling diseases.

viii.

ix.

There is need to establish a closer working relationship between Departments of Veterinary Services and Livestock Development and abattoirs and other slaughter facilities.
The ante mortem and postmortem inspection of livestock and carcasses should be the sole responsibility of the Department of Veterinary Services.

Abattoirs were a very important tool in disease monitoring and disease trace back as they provide an opportunity for an early warning system.

Extension services in both disease and animal husbandry were pivotal in improving the status of the traditional sector.
It was, therefore, important that the veterinary camps were manned and the officers had transport and resources to conduct these activities.

The quality of the extension messages that the officers were passing on to the farming community was also very important.

It was, therefore, necessary to provide the officers with current information backed with current research findings suitable for the Zambian situation.
There was need, therefore, to link the research units to the officers responsible for packaging the extension messages to be created 4 and/or strengthened.

Awareness creation on the spread and prevention of livestock diseases should also be extended to livestock traders, transporters, marketeers and consumers.

x.

Effective management of cold chain facilities should be put in place to avoid compromising the quality and effectiveness of the vaccines e.g.

the use of solar fridges and freezers.


Cold chain was also important in the preservation of any samples collected in the field to ensure correct diagnosis of diseases.

xi.

Although Theileriosis (Corridor disease and East Coast Fever) was classified under the management diseases, it was by far the most important disease in the country in terms of cattle mortalities.

In areas where the disease was newly introduced, mortalities could be as high as 80- 90%.
This was in stark contrast to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) where mortality rates directly related to the disease rarely exceed 5%.

It was therefore, the major contributor to the reduction in the livestock numbers in the country especially in Southern Province.

In the Southern Province for example, between the period 1985, to 2005, the population dropped by about 40% from 1,060,085 in 1985, to 642,252 in 2005 mainly due to Corridor disease.
The disease has devastated the livelihoods of the traditional sector.

It was for this reason that Theileriosis must considered as a DNEI in order for the livestock sector to positively contribute to the country’s economy and quest to diversify it.

xii.

Despite it being law and compulsory to dip cattle as per Animal Health Act of 2010, lack of dip tanks/or lack of operational dip tanks and acaricides is a challenge.

As a result, the law could not be enforced.


There was need, therefore, to expedite the construction and rehabilitation of dip tanks.

Mechanisms should also be put in place to ensure the effective management of these dip tanks for the purposes of sustainability.

xiii.

An electronic reporting system should be put in place to ensure quick submission of reports from the camp/district/province which would result in quick response in cases that needed attention.
This would also contribute to improving the rate of submitting reports by field officers.

The reports should also be copied to the local authorities to promote transparency and accountability.

xiv.

The cordon line must be constructed using up to date fencing materials as was the case in Botswana and Namibia.

Resources must also be made available to ensure it was not vandalised and for the routine maintenance of the fence.
Controlling Officer’s responses and the Committee’s Observations and Recommendations The following were the responses from the Controlling Officer and your Committee’s 6.2 observations and recommendations on the queries.

Audit Query a) Lack of a Strategic Plan and Livestock Development Policy A strategic plan defined an organisation’s future outlook and set strategies for achieving desired objectives and direction of the entity.
Resources were also allocated to priority areas highlighted in the strategic plan.

The last strategic plan for the Ministry expired in 2010.

Despite the draft Strategic Plan having been prepared, it had not been approved as of June, 2015.

5 Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the Strategic Plan for the then Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives was launched in 2006 and expired in 2010.
After the expiry, the process of developing a new strategic plan shifted and coincided with the splitting of the Ministry.

In 2011, a new Government was ushered in, resulting in the remerging of the Ministries and change in the strategic plan.

The recent splitting in September, 2015, had resulted in the draft strategic plan being split again.
These changes in the institutional arrangement from splitting to remerging and splitting again had contributed to the strategic plans remaining in draft form to date.

The Controlling Officer stated that there was no stand-alone livestock development policy in the then Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

All livestock development matters were part of the National Agricultural Policy (NAP) which was launched in 2004 and expired in 2015.
In view of the expiry of the NAP in 2015 and the creation of the new Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MFL), the process of developing the Fisheries and Livestock Development Policy and the new Strategic Plan had commenced.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the lack of a Livestock Development Policy in place affects the operations of the Ministry.
Your Committee recommends that the Ministry expedites the finalisation of consultations and development of the Livestock Development Policy and Strategic Plan.

Audit Query b) Inadequate Dip Tanks and Resources for Compulsory Dipping In response to high incidences of tick borne diseases such as East Coast Fever (ECF), the Government introduced compulsory dipping and vaccination as contained in Statutory Instrument No.

24 of 2014.
24 of 2014.

In this Statutory Instrument, it was directed that livestock owners would be required to vaccinate their animals against diseases such as anthrax, black leg, Contagious Bovine Pleural Pneumonia (CBPP), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), lumpy skin disease and hemorrhagic septicemia, according to the schedule of vaccinations.

The issuance of the Statutory Instrument was expected to drastically reduce the occurrence of livestock diseases.
However, interviews with farmers and key Ministry personnel revealed that despite the issuance of the Statutory Instrument, resources required for the successful implementation of the measures such as dip wash and vaccines were not easily accessible and affordable to most rural farmers.

Furthermore, infrastructure to support dipping and vaccination activities such as dip tanks were not available in some camps.
Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the Ministry had targeted construction of a further sixty dip tanks in 2016.

The Ministry would provide dip chemicals for the first charge, but farmers were expected to pay a contribution to sustain the programme.

Farmers were encouraged to start a revolving fund through the cooperatives.
6 Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the inadequacy of the dip tanks and resources for compulsory dipping is posing a risk to the development of the livestock sector.

Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Ministry should ensure that dip tanks are rehabilitated or new ones constructed in all livestock farming areas, as a matter of urgency in order to promote the development of the Livestock Sector.
Audit Query c) Lack of Records of Livestock Information The Ministry was required to maintain an up to date data base on livestock and disease prevalence in the country.

None of the sampled camps by auditors had camp registers.

As a result, most Veterinary Camp Officers were unable to give livestock details with certainty.

In addition, Veterinary Camp Officers were unable to give exact details such as number of farmers in the Camp, livestock population and other relevant details.
Furthermore, the Ministry was unable to avail records such as camp dimensions, check points and quarantine facilities, procedural manual, national livestock surveillance strategy and other pertinent information.

Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that it was a requirement for each officer to have stock registers.

Going forward, the Ministry would take measures to provide stock registers to all veterinary camps.
Additionally, the Ministry was in the process of demarcating veterinary camps.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the Ministry has not provided stock registers to all the veterinary camps thereby compromising the provision of information for stock disease control.

Your Committee recommends that, as a matter of urgency, the Government must provide the stock registers to all veterinary camps.
Audit Query d) Non-Submission of Surveillance Reports by Districts Surveillance was aimed at identifying the absence or presence of disease and detecting livestock diseases as early as possible.

Part of surveillance involved the capture and analysis of data on a regular basis.

Livestock disease reporting was dependent on the receipt of monthly district reports.
Monthly reports were used to communicate vital information such as disease outbreaks, disease control and management activities, supervision to camps, number of livestock in the districts, vaccination activities undertaken, staff returns, stock movements, meat inspections, livestock development and production, funding details, laboratory activities, challenges and other relevant data.
7 A review of documentation showed that only 19.5%, 14.7% and 31.4% of the total district reports expected for the period 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively were submitted.

Failure by the districts to submit the required number of reports per year was as a result of failure by camp officers to collect data from all households in their camps due to vastness of camp.
The failure by the Ministry to maintain an up to date database on livestock and disease had a negative impact on the management of livestock diseases.

In the absence of reliable information, it was not clear how the Ministry was able to effectively execute its mandate on the management of livestock disease.

Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the Ministry would strengthen the National Livestock Epidemiology Information Centre, the unit responsible for data collection.
The Ministry would strengthen direct supervision of camp officers to collect the necessary data.

For vast camps, the Ministry had procured 312 motor bikes to assist in the mobility.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that failure by the Ministry to maintain an up to date database on livestock and disease has a negative impact on the management of livestock diseases.
In light of this, your Committee recommends that the Ministry ensures that all veterinary camps are issued with stock registers without fail and that vast camps should be demarcated as soon as possible and transport provided to ease movement.

Audit Query e) Lack of Livestock Census A comprehensive livestock census was important for planning purposes.
Procurement of adequate vaccines, reagents, and syringes and other disease control strategies all depended on the accurate estimation of the livestock population.

This could only be achieved through a regular comprehensive census.

The last comprehensive livestock census was conducted in the 1970’s.

Failure to conduct a livestock census was attributed to lack of adequate funding and low staffing.
In the absence of updated livestock statistics, it was difficult for the Ministry to make informed decision and hampered planning for animal health activities.

In addition, the lack of a census for many years posed a major challenge in the formulation of strategies for the prevention and control of livestock diseases.
Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the Ministry was equally concerned because the absence of a census for such a long period of time had adversely affected the Ministry’s planning processes.

The Ministry had reached an advanced stage in the preparation for a comprehensive census.

A budget of K109 million had been prepared and a budget line of K2 million was provided for in the 2016 budget.
The Ministry had embarked on the execution of the roadmap in which one of the activities was a stakeholders’ meeting in which fund mobilisation from stakeholders would be part of the items to be discussed.

If there would be commitment for fund 8 mobilisation, the census would take place in June, 2016, but in the case where funds were not mobilised from cooperating partners, the Ministry would continue mobilising funds to conduct the census in 2017.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee commends the Ministry for embarking on the preparations for the livestock census.

However, your Committee notes that the budget line for the census is very minimal which shows lack of political will to carry out the census.
In light of this, your Committee recommends that as a matter of urgency, the Government should provide adequate funding and staffing and ensure that the livestock census is conducted as this is key to planning any livestock activities.

Audit Query f) Inadequate Surveillance at Abattoirs The Act required the Veterinary Services Department to regulate and provide for the conduct of meat inspection in a slaughter facility for the purpose of controlling animal diseases and residues in meat.
The Veterinary Department lacked presence in most abattoirs in the country except in parts of Eastern, Southern and Western Provinces.

According to personnel, ante and post mortem was only conducted in abattoirs where the Department had a strong presence.

Consequently, the Department was unable to collect vital statistics such as animal health data, possible disease prone areas and lost the opportunity of an early warning system.
Additionally, the lack of consistent veterinary presence in abattoirs had affected international trade in livestock products.

Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the Ministry noted the observation and was in agreement that abattoirs were supposed to be manned by the Veterinarians supported by the Animal Health and Public Health Acts.
Now that the Veterinary Department was adequately staffed to carry out this assignment, the Ministry was in consultations with Ministry of Health to take over this assignment to meet the export market requirement.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee commends the Ministry for ensuring that the Veterinary Department is now staffed.
However, your Committee urges the Ministry to expedite its consultations with the Ministry of Health to help meet the export market requirements in livestock products.

Audit Query g) Non-Accreditation of Laboratories The Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI) was not an accredited laboratory due to its inability to conform to the technical requirements of Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service (SADCAS).
As a direct result of lack of accreditation, Zambia’s foreign trade in livestock was negatively impacted.

Consequently, results of investigations of livestock 9 disease were not acceptable in certain countries such as Botswana and Namibia.

Furthermore, the lack of accreditation had entailed that the results produced by the laboratory could not be relied upon and may be subjected to further testing by third parties.
Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the CVRI had completed all the requirements for accreditation of the laboratory and an application had been sent to SADCAS.

The lists of documents as required by SADCAS were being prepared for dispatch to support the application process.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee commends the Ministry for completing all the requirements for accreditation of the laboratory.
However, your Committee is not happy with the delay in preparing documents as required by SADCAS to support the application process.

Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Ministry should, as a matter of urgency, dispatch the required documentation to support the application process.

Audit Query h) Inadequate Diagnostic Capacity in Regional Laboratories The regional laboratories were inadequately staffed and lacked both basic and advanced diagnostic equipment such as kits and reagents.
Consequently, most samples were sent to the main laboratory (CVRI) in Lusaka, thus increasing the risk of sample spoiling.

This hampered the speed at which the results were communicated to the regional laboratories.

Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the Ministry had constructed six regional laboratories in addition to the district laboratories and was in the process of commissioning the Solwezi Laboratory that was almost complete.
Other laboratories would be completed in the course of the year.

Equipment for the regional laboratories had already been procured and installations were awaiting the completion of the construction works.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that there are inadequate staff and diagnostic equipment in the laboratories countrywide.
Your Committee recommends that the Government should expedite the construction of regional laboratories and installation of diagnostic equipment and ensure staff is recruited expeditiously.

Audit Query i) Failure to follow Vaccination Schedules Vaccination schedules were not adhered to in many instances.

The delays were up to three months after the scheduled time.

These delays were as a result of delayed disbursement of funds 10 and procurement of vaccines.
Failure to adhere to vaccination schedules had the impact of introducing and spreading livestock diseases as livestock would have worn off the previously injected vaccines.

Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the Ministry was equally concerned and requested Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) for a no-objection to grant a three year contract for the procurement of vaccines that was currently in use.
The Ministry would endeavor to ensure that funds were made available in time.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that failure to follow vaccination schedules has the impact of introducing and spreading livestock diseases.

In light of this, your Committee recommends that the Ministry should endeavour to disburse funds timely to procure vaccines on time.
Audit Query j) Lack of Field Equipment A physical inspection of camps and interviews held with camp officers revealed that Camp officers lacked basic tools such as cold chains facilities for efficient and safe handling of vaccines, slides, tubes, syringes, thermometers, weighing machines and other equipment for use in sample collection, vaccinations and other activities.

Consequently, blood and other samples were not collected and scheduled activities such as vaccinations were delayed.
This in turn hampered disease surveillance activities.

Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that it was the mandate of the Ministry to ensure that all extension officers were given veterinary and livestock service kits.

Over the years, the equipment became obsolete.

However, the Ministry had embarked on procurement and distribution of these kits.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that camp officers lack basic tools and other equipment for use in sample collection, vaccinations and other activities.

This has caused delays in collecting blood and other samples leading to delays in scheduled activities such as vaccinations.

Your Committee recommends that the Government should procure and distribute the kits to the extension officers, as a matter of urgency, to avoid hampering disease surveillance activities.
11 Audit Query k) Non-functional Quarantine Facilities According to the Act, the Ministry was required to maintain appropriate quarantine facilities for the purpose of screening for diseases of livestock imported into the country.

Five quarantine facilities, namely, Lusaka, Simonga, Chanida, Mwami and Lusuntha were not functional due to run down infrastructure.

Lack of functioning quarantine facilities increased the risk of the entry and spread of livestock diseases from abroad.
Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that all the five quarantines were obsolete.

He stated that the Ministry had embarked on the construction of quarantine stations.

This year, the Ministry was constructing one each in the following: Livingstone; Nakonde; and Lusaka.

The advertisement had been done and evaluation processes were beginning.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that a lack of functioning quarantine facilities increased the risk of the entry and spread of livestock diseases from abroad.

In light of this, your Committee recommends that the Government expedites the construction and renovation of the obsolete quarantine facilities to avert the importation of diseases from other countries.
Audit Query l) Non-functional Dip Tanks A review of records revealed that the Ministry had constructed a total of 697 dip tanks across the country to help in the prevention of the tick borne disease.

Out of the 697 constructed dip tanks, eighty-nine were functional whilst the balance of 608 were either dilapidated or inappropriately sited.

Due to the lack of adequate and functioning dip tanks, most farmers resorted to knapsack spraying.
However, spraying was prone to error such as inaccurate mixing and inadequate wetting thereby rendering the process ineffective.

The Audit also revealed that the non-functional state of most dip tanks was attributed to lack of maintenance and community participation.

Consequently, tick borne diseases had continued to spread across the country.

Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the Department targeted to construct 224 new dip tanks and rehabilitate 297 bringing the total to 521.
So far 153 dip tanks had been completed (105 rehabilitation and fourty-eight new ones).

There were ninety-four dip tanks in the process of being constructed/rehabilitated and contractors had not moved to site for twenty seven dip tanks.

There were 197 dip tanks in various stages of tender process.

The increase in the number of dip tanks as revealed by the auditors report could have come as result of the officer’s inclusion of those from the private sector.

The Ministry would verify the disparity.


12 Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee commends the Ministry for the dip tanks constructed and rehabilitated.

However, your Committee notes that despite the progress made in rehabilitating and constructing the ones completed, the numbers of dip tanks are still inadequate and this poses a challenge to disease control.

Your Committee recommends that, as a matter of urgency, the Government construct more dip tanks to meet the requirements.
Audit Query m) Failure to maintain the Cordon Line The cordon line which was made out of barbed wire was constructed in Shangombo District in the 1970's and ran 400 km parallel to the Angolan border.

It was used as an effective barrier to restrict the cross border movement of animals and was thus an effective measure against the transmission of animal diseases, especially Contagious Bovine Pleural Pneumonia, CBPP.
A physical inspection of the line carried out in August 2014 in Shangombo District revealed that the line had been extensively vandalised and was non-operational.

The absence of the line had led to the re-emergence of CBPP in Western province after an absence of twenty-three years which had since spread to other parts of the Country.
During the disease surveillance exercise carried out in 2012, in Mambolomoka, Natukoma and Shangombo central camps in Shangombo District, it was revealed that there was a 47% prevalence rate of CBPP.

Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that it was not true that the resurgence had come twenty-three years after removal of the cordon line; actually the disease resurfaced one year after the removal of the cordon line.
This was as a result of the retrenchments of all the cordon guards under the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).

The Ministry had embarked on the introduction of the cordon line in consultations with Angolan counterparts.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that a cordon line is an important component of the disease control mechanism.

In the past, this cordon line was complete with intact fences and supported by adequate human resource.
Emanating from this observation, your Committee recommends that the Government provides funds to rehabilitate and operationalise the cordon line.

Audit Query n) Inadequate Human Resource According to the staff establishment register for the Department of Veterinary Services, the Department was supposed to have a total of 1,434 staff.

However, 793 positions were filled whilst the balance of 641 representing 44.8% were vacant.
Included in the vacant positions were 443 positions for Veterinary Assistants who were critical for the delivery of veterinary services to the camps.

The Department was unable to fill the vacant posts due to the freezing of the positions 13 by Public Service Management Division (PSMD) and the Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PMEC).
Consequently, camp officers were expected to man vast operational areas and some checkpoints remained unmanned thus hindering the effective management and control of livestock diseases.

Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the Ministry had requested for the de-freezing of all the vacant positions in the Ministry in order to meet its mandate.

The Ministry recruited 120 extension officers in 2015, who were deployed in various veterinary camps across the country.
In 2016, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock was targeting to employ 1000 extension officers some of whom would be allocated to the Department of Veterinary Services.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that lack of adequate staff in the Department of Veterinary Services has contributed to the ineffective management and control of disease outbreaks in the country.
Your Committee recommends that the Government expedites the recruitment of essential staff for the livestock sector.

Audit Query o) High Disease Incidence A review of records on the disease prevalence in Zambia revealed that most of the diseases were recurrent, and in some cases outbreaks were as much as up to 17 times in a year as was the case with African Swine Fever (ASF) in Eastern Province and three times in a year for Contagious Bovine Pleural Pneumonia (CBPP).
A further examination of records revealed the following: i. ii.

iii.

2013 Out of a total number of 82,946 cases of varying diseases such as Anthrax, CBPP, ASF, Black leg, among others, there were recorded deaths of 43,280 livestock.

This represented a mortality rate of 52.1%.

The highest recorded mortality rate was from Anthrax at 95% whilst the lowest was from FMD with 0% mortality.

2012 The highest recorded mortality rate was from ASF at 100% whilst the lowest was from FMD at 0% mortality rate.
2011 Anthrax recorded the most number of deaths at 98% whilst the lowest was from FMD at 0.1%.

A poor disease strategy such as delayed vaccinations and late release of funds for the procurement of vaccines and other consumables and inadequate funding to the livestock subsector had led to recurrent and costly disease outbreaks.

As a result, the country continued to battle 14 outbreaks and was unable to grow the sector to its full potential.
This had in turn led to trade restrictions on both the local and international market.

Government’s Response The Controlling Officer submitted that the Ministry had taken note and measures on timely disease prevention were being instituted.
He further mentioned that most outbreaks reported in the audit report were in endemic areas for these diseases, for example, African Swine Fever in Eastern Province, Foot and Mouth Disease in Southern and Northern Provinces, Contagious Bovine Pleural Pneumonia in Western Province.

These outbreaks occurred in populations that were not vaccinated or protected against these diseases.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that there is poor service delivery in the livestock sector in terms of disease control measures such as delayed vaccinations and late release of funds.

In light of this, your Committee recommends that Government should ensure that there is improved disease control through improved service delivery.
CONCLUSION 7.0 Your Committee is grateful to you, Mr Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly for the support rendered to it during the consideration of the Report of the Auditor-General on the Management and Control of Livestock Diseases for the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.

Your Committee is also indebted to all the witnesses who appeared before it for their cooperation in providing the necessary memoranda and briefs.
K Chipungu, MP CHAIRPERSON March, 2016 LUSAKA 15 APPENDIX I List of Officials National Assembly Mr S C Kawimbe, Principal Clerk of Committees Ms M K Sampa, Deputy Principal Clerk of Committees Mr F Nabulyato, Committee Clerk (SC) Mrs M K Siwo, Assistant Committee Clerk Ms C Mtonga, Stenographer Mr C Bulaya, Committee Assistant Mr M Chikome, Parliamentary Messenger 16